1970s: New Directions

IIE undertook administration of the Venezuelan Government's "Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho" Scholarship Program which assisted nearly 4,000 promising young Venezuelans, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, to study in the United States in fields related to national development.

1970Sponsors entrants in the Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, where IIE grantee Garrick Ohlsson becomes the first American ever to win first prize.

1971Under Project City Streets, IIE provides exchange opportunities for members of U.S. minority groups. Programs are developed for the Puerto Rican community of New York City and summer study opportunities are made available for Native American leaders to travel to Israel and focus on the kibbutz system and small scale industry in arid regions.

1973Starts administering the ITT International Fellowship Program, for both U.S. and foreign nationals. The program is the largest bilateral exchange program ever sponsored by a corporation, with nearly 800 graduate students participating over 17 years.

1974IIE is asked to administer the Venezuelan Government's "Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho" Scholarship Program, assisting nearly 4,000 young Venezuelans, many from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Works with AIG's Starr Foundation to begin the international Starr Scholarship Program for American International (Employees') Children Overseas.

1977Co-hosts the U.S.-Arab Educator's Conference with a Saudi Arabian University, to explore ways of increasing contact between educational leaders from the U.S. and the Arab world.

1978Begins developing the South African Education Program (SAEP) to help prepare black South Africans for leadership in a post-apartheid future, with support from U.S. corporations and universities. Through SAEP nearly 1,600 Black South Africans earn degrees and many return to hold key positions in South Africa.

1979Designed and implemented the U.S. Government's Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship program for mid-career professionals, a program which gains thousands of alumni leadership positions through the developing world.

Created the South African Education Program to help prepare black South Africans for leadership in a post-apartheid future.